Farm Beginnings Programs in Southeast Nebraska Assist Beginning Diversified Farmers. Gary Lesoing, University of Nebraska, Lincoln Extension

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1 Farm Beginnings Programs in Southeast Nebraska Assist Beginning Diversified Farmers Gary Lesoing, University of Nebraska, Lincoln Extension

2 Land Stewardship Project Entering its 27th year keeping the land and people together Working with farmers, policy makers, ag professionals, consumers of local foods Focusing on education, policies, research, marketing fostering stewardship for farmland Programming includes Local, State and Federal Policies Community Based Food Systems Farm Beginnings

3 In a farming business to be sustainable you must find sustainability in your: Quality of Life Financial Viability Environmental Practices Grazing Cover Crops Crop Rotations Permaculture Know how. Know now. What is meant by Sustainable?

4 How Farm Beginnings came to be in Southeast Nebraska Land Stewardship Project SARE Grant Pilot Program in Nebraska in Formed a Steering Committee in Eastern Nebraska Formed partnership with the University of Nebraska, Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society, Center for Rural Affairs and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Selected facilitators, presenters and mentors Financial partners provided assistance to the program through scholarships.

5 Why Farm Beginnings?? Program trains graduates in innovative low-cost sustainable agriculture. Rural populations are declining, in many counties over 5 percent. Increasing demand for food grown locally, using sustainable practices.

6 Why Farm Beginnings?? This program provided an opportunity for people to learn firsthand about low-cost, sustainable methods of farming and see potential opportunities. The Farm Beginnings program utilizes farmers in teaching and as mentors, with Extension faculty also providing facilitation and expertise.

7 Farm Beginnings : It Works! A hands-on Education/ Training Program 34 seminar hours Goal setting/ Whole Farm Planning Business Planning/ Coaching On- farm education Farm Tours Skills Sessions Mentoring Farmer Presenters/ Mentors Shatters barriers Connecting to Resources

8 Myth: You can t start farming without having grown up on a farm. Reality: Beginning Farmers are Teachers Engineers Part-time Farmers Secretaries High School Students College students Banker City Planners Architect Computer programmer Stay at home mom Women and Men

9 Myths: No one cares about the future of farmers and the farming community Reality: My idea of a mentor program isn t to be an expert but to have an understanding and willingness to share experiences about the operation. We see ourselves as part of the network. Bev Struxness Farm Beginnings Mentor

10 Farm Beginnings mentor Paul Rohrbaugh talks to students at his poultry processing facilities.

11 Myth: You need to go into debt to start farming. Reality: Beginning farmers are finding ways to get started that are low input, land intensive and keep their exposure to risk low.

12 Vegetables growing in a High Tunnel Know how. Know now.

13 Finishing hogs on lots and direct marketing them.

14 Myth: Get big or get out. OR There is only one way to farm.

15 Myth: Farming is a way of life. Myth: Farming is a business. Reality: Farming is a way of life AND a business. The challenge is to manage the business in a way that helps you achieve the quality of life you desire.

16 Farm Beginnings Program was initiated in Nebraska with a SARE grant and cooperation with the LSP. Jim Peterson and Martin Kleinschmit provided initial leadership for this project. Steering committee was formed of farmers and other agricultural stakeholders. Initial class began in November 2005 in Syracuse, NE. Paul Rohrbaugh and Gary Lesoing serviced as co-facilitators of this class.

17 Farm Beginnings Class The class met for 10 sessions on Saturdays from November March. In the spring and summer the class toured several sustainable farms in SE Nebraska. There were 12 families (farmers) that completed the class. Class participants came from Nemaha, Johnson, Pawnee, Saline, Lancaster, Holt, Sarpy and Boyd Counties in Nebraska.

18 Who Participated? The came from all walks of life. Young single men wanting to learn about the business side of farming. College students researching and evaluating potential farming opportunities. Young couples and families currently supplementing their income with part-time time farming enterprises. Older families investigating alternative enterprises. Recently or soon to be retired individuals looking to start a second career.

19 Farm Beginnings Course Holistic Management and Goal Setting Whole Farm Planning Building Your Business Plan Financial Planning Marketing Networking Connecting with Resources

20 Farm Beginnings Presenters & Mentors Terry Gompert and Paul Swanson - Holistic management Jim Bender Farm Tour Glennis McClure Dave Welsch Paul Rohrbaugh Tom Larson Martin Kleinschmit Dave Goeller

21 Farm Beginnings Graduates 10 out of the 12 businesses have been involved in production agriculture at some level. Selling and managing area Farmers Markets. Selling meat, eggs and produce through the Nebraska Food Coop. Selling eggs at local grocery store. Direct marketing ag products.

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24 Soap is being made from Goat Milk and sold at their store and through the Food Coop.

25 Marketing Grassfed Beef

26 Soybean Aphid: Studies 10, No Predators Open Plots Surrounding Field Marketing Vegetables 7000 Aphids/Plant Mean Mean Aphids/Plant / 3.5 1, Aphids/Plant Date (2005)

27 What did participants say? Holistic management portion of class is very useful. The network of people and contacts they made through the class was very valuable. Like the Mastercard Commercial Priceless. Become better stewards of the land and provide food to our community and family in a healthy way. Resources we learned and used from the class. Participants are contributing from $1000 to $25,000 to the economy of their communities.

28 How did they rate the class? On a scale of 1-7 with 1 being poor and 7 being excellent, the average rating for the evaluation of the program was 6.16.

29 Farm Beginnings Class Class began in November of 2008 Meets on Saturdays in Syracuse, NE 7 Farms participating Participants from Lancaster, Johnson, Gage, Douglas, and Nemaha Counties in Nebraska and Atchison County in Missouri. Interests in dairy, livestock, produce, fruits, trees, grains and agritourism.

30 What about recent graduates? Some starting new enterprises on a small scale. Others have purchased land to begin new enterprises. Some are diversifying into several livestock enterprises, i.e. cattle, sheep and chickens. Others are raising vegetables and started raising bees for honey. Still others are deciding what the best path is for them to follow.

31 Organic Alfalfa Production Know how. Know now.

32 Converting CRP to Organic Production

33 Longhorn Beef Production

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35 Pastureland on New Property